What it's like to live in Amersham

This is a strong area for schools, which is exactly why families compete for homes here. Dr Challoner's Grammar School is barely a few minutes' walk away, with Dr Challoner's High School under two miles and Chiltern Hills Academy a little over two. Grammar schools mean the eleven-plus, so read up early if that route interests you.

For younger children there's Chestnut Lane School and its preschool, Elangeni School, Woodside Junior School and Saint George's Church of England Infant and Preschool, all within a mile. The Oaks Primary Pupil Referral Unit is also nearby.

Amersham Family Hub is about a mile and a half out, with Amersham Youth and the community centre closer in. Across Buckinghamshire, 19.7% of residents are under 16, slightly above the England average.

Amersham station is about a quarter of a mile from the town centre, and it's the main reason people move here. Chalfont & Latimer is a couple of miles away if you need an alternative.

Buses are easy to pick up without a car. Oakfield Corner, Sycamore Road and the stops outside Amersham station are all within a couple of minutes' walk of the centre, so the shops, library and health centre are reachable on foot or by a short ride.

The town itself is walkable, though the Chilterns mean hills in places. If you don't drive, stick to a swap near the station and the centre rather than the outer edges, where you'll lean on buses more.

Green space is the real draw. Hervines Park and the Hervines Bluebell Sanctuary are both within half a mile, with Woodside Close Field and Highfield Close Green closer still, and the Chiltern Lifestyle Centre Park right by the town centre.

For evenings out there's Metro Lounge, Mad Squirrel, the Boot & Slipper and Smoky Boys, all within a short walk, plus the Amersham Rock'n'Roll Club about a mile away. The nearest cinema-style venue is the Elgiva Theatre in Chesham, a couple of miles off.

For exercise and classes, Fit Club Amersham and Sol Pilates are in the centre, with CrossFit Chiltern and Jazzercise groups under a mile. Amersham Library and the community halls run the sort of low-cost activity that keeps a week ticking over.

Buckinghamshire does well on work. Census 2021 put 61.6% of adults in the county in employment, above the England figure of 57.4%, with unemployment at 2.8% against 3.5% nationally. By August 2026, 3% of 16 to 64 year olds in the county were claiming unemployment-related benefits, compared with 4% across England.

Locally, Amersham's jobs sit mainly in the town centre shops, cafes, pubs and health services, including the hospital and health centre. Plenty of residents commute into London by train instead.

That commuting option matters if you're moving for work. It widens what you can apply for, though season tickets are a real cost to budget for.

Buckinghamshire is an owner-occupier county. Census 2021 showed 70% of homes owned outright or on a mortgage, 15.7% privately rented and just 13% social rented, below the England figure of 17.1%. Only 2.6% is council-owned, with 10.3% housing association.

In plain terms, there is less social housing here than in most places, and it doesn't come up often. That makes Amersham a harder swap target than a big town or city, but not an impossible one.

The age mix is fairly balanced, with 27.3% of county residents aged 45 to 64 and 18.8% aged 65 and over. It feels settled rather than transient, and neighbours tend to stay put.